Sheriff: Phone calls to Lexington residents Saturday were scams

The Lexington County Sheriff’s Department issued a warning to residents Saturday to beware of callers claiming to be from the Sheriff Department’s warrants division.

In a posting on the department’s Facebook page, Sheriff James Metts said several Lexington County resident reported getting such calls on Saturday.

Residents were told that they had missed a call to jury duty and were subject to arrest. The scammer said they could avoid arrest by calling a phone number and paying the fine with pre-paid credit cards in the amount of $500 or $1000.

Sheriff Metts said the phone number provided by the scammers is not registered with the Sheriff’s Department. Furthermore, judges rarely issue bench warrants for failing to show up for jury duty, Metts said. If a bench warrant is issued against someone in Lexington County, the person will be arrested and required to appear at a court hearing. There is no provision for paying fines over the phone to lift a bench warrant.

Metts urged citizens who receive a call from someone claiming to be from the Sheriff’s Department to ask for their name, jot down any phone number that may appear if they have caller ID and report the call to the Sheriff’s Department. Do not call the number provided by the scammer and “do not buy pre-paid credit cards to try to resolve the matter.”

To report receiving a scam-call, call the main number for the Lexington County Sheriff's Department at (803) 785-8230.